Abuja — The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has issued a stern warning to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), insisting that the 2027 general elections must be transparent, credible, and free of technical excuses.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said the party will not tolerate any form of “institutional manipulation” similar to what Nigerians witnessed in past polls.
He cited Section 64 (4–6) of the Electoral Act 2022, which mandates direct recording and electronic transmission of results from polling units using BVAS or other approved devices.
“There must be no glitches in 2027. If POS machines work seamlessly across Nigeria, then INEC cannot claim that BVAS devices suddenly fail on election day. That would be deliberate manipulation, and Nigerians will not accept it,” Ologunagba declared.
The PDP spokesman stressed that INEC already has the technology and infrastructure to ensure seamless real-time transmission of results, arguing that anything short of this would undermine democracy.
PDP Accuses APC of “Endorsement Shopping”
Ologunagba also accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of abandoning governance for early campaigns, saying the Tinubu-led administration is “panicking over the PDP’s resurgence.”
He dismissed APC’s series of endorsements as “desperate attempts to mask failure,” adding:
“If this government was truly performing, it wouldn’t need endorsements. Nigerians are hungry, schools are unaffordable, and hardship is rising, yet policies like the 5% petroleum tax keep surfacing. That is punishment, not governance.”
ADC Backs PDP’s Call
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) joined the PDP’s demand, saying making electronic result transmission legally binding would restore public confidence in Nigeria’s elections.
ADC spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi, said:
“Anything that guarantees that the people’s votes truly count is not just desirable, it is an absolute necessity.”
Bottom Line
With less than two years to the 2027 elections, pressure is mounting on INEC to demonstrate readiness. The PDP has vowed to resist any attempt to manipulate results, insisting that “the era of glitches is over.”
